Auditor's analysis of JobsOhio is praiseworthy

Potential conflicts of interest at JobsOhio uncovered by the Ohio Ethics Commission comes as no surprise given that in August a newspaper revealed that six of the nine members of the board of directors have direct financial ties to companies receiving public money.

But having the ethics commission confirm what the Dayton Daily News found through its own investigation is significant.

It means that the dismissive attitude of JobsOhio officials, Gov. John Kasich and members of his administration now lacks credibility.

What is even more telling about the recent development is that Ohio Auditor David Yost, who won a battle with the governor over auditing JobsOhio's books, is now looking into the conflict-of-interest findings by the ethics panel

So far, so good.

However, Gov. Kasich could still have the last laugh - even if Yost's examination confirms the conflicts. The Republican governor and the Republican controlled General Assembly have made sure that neither the ethics commission nor the state auditor will have oversight with regard to JobsOhio.

If the auditor's office issues its findings, it would be up to the ethics commission to take action.

There is a law on the books that says JobsOhio is a private group that does not have to adhere to state laws that guarantee transparency and public scrutiny.

It doesn't matter to Kasich et al that the entity spends public dollars and that it is the state's chief economic development agency.

The secrecy surrounding JobsOhio has not only led the public to suspect that those directly involved in its operation are up to no good, but it has given Democrats an issue they will carry into the 2014 statewide election.

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Auditor's analysis of JobsOhio is praiseworthy

Potential conflicts of interest at JobsOhio uncovered by the Ohio Ethics Commission comes as no surprise given that in August a newspaper revealed that six of the nine members of the board of